"If the wrong man uses the right means, the right means work in the wrong way." This Chinese saying, unfortunately, only too true, stands in sharp contrast to our belief in the 'right' method irrespective of the man who applies it. In reality, everything depends upon the man and little or nothing on the method." Carl Yung

I have always loved this quote - for me it truly encapsulates and clarifies the competence (IQ) verses character (EQ) question.

There is no point in having an 'expertise' if you are not trustworthy, yet we find that much of mental health 'medicine' (and life) is about IQ facts and I would suggest, that if you do not trust the psychiatrist, psychologist or GP, the 'prescription' is most likely to fail. It is the trust between you - the relationship building and understanding that is crucial to start with - to understand the person first before prescribing the process.

A GP is the most trusted profession as 'they' have to listen first.

In Moodscope, we have so many positive people seeking to help others by offering their own story. I simply like to offer thoughts that may shift our perceptions or poems that connect an emotion, believing that all change is driven by emotion (positive or negative).

Some people are very clear about an action or activity they embraced, which helped or changed their life.

The important thing here is that it changed THEIR life - it may not however change anyone else's life.

Jung makes it clear, it is ALL about the person and little about the process and in my view this is especially relevant with mental health. This is not like having a broken leg where everyone 'mends' the same way, which the NHS is so good at.

For those with mental health challenges it is more about placebos and nocebos as perceived by every person, each as unique as their fingerprints!

Radio 4 this week had a programme on highlighting that nocebos are actually far more psychologically powerful than placebos: http://bit.ly/1EpYud4

In other words focus on the positive rather than the risk of not doing it, or even the possible side effects.

Bad is actually more psychologically powerful than good!

So – returning to Jung quote of wisdom, in a world almost totally now measuring people by their IQ, we will help more people in Moodscope by simply offering what helped us, than prescribing any specific 'method' of cure or reason and the dangers of not using it. Placebo and not nocebo.

What has been 'offered' to you recently which has made a difference, and what can we offer of ourselves to others?

Les

A Moodscope member.